[Neutral zone. An anatomic space which is often neglected while fabricating removable complete dentures]

When designing complete dentures, consideration should not only be given to the occlusal concept but also to the occlusal system as a whole. An important part of that system is the position of the artificial teeth. This prosthetic part of the occlusal system is directly related to the tongue, the floor of the mouth, the cheeks and the lips. The artificial teeth of the mandibular dentures have to be positioned in the so-called 'neutral zone' of the edentulous mandible. The neutral zone is the stress-free area between the tongue on one side and, on the other side, the mimic muscles, which are responsible for the movement of the lips and cheeks. Moreover, the maxillary posterior artificial teeth and the supporting acrylic surfaces of the maxillary denture have an important function in providing support for the upper lip and cheeks in order to prevent a 'denture look' appearance.